Grand Olympia: Further Horizon - Chapter 9: Lone Defender
The whole area had descended into complete chaos.
The once-pristine forest, dense with ancient trees and vibrant foliage, was now a smoking battlefield. Explosions had left deep scars in the earth, craters of burnt soil and shattered rock littering the ground. The air was thick with the scent of gunpowder, sweat, and blood, mingling with the distant roars of monsters drawn to the carnage. Fires flickered in the distance, their glow casting eerie shadows against the dense smoke hanging in the air.
And at the heart of it all—these warriors clashed in an unrelenting storm of steel, will, and raw power.
As Musashi and Lapulapu closed in on their enemies, a massive shadow loomed overhead.
Yasuke had leapt into the air, his massive frame silhouetted against the backdrop of fire and smoke. His oni mask, devoid of human emotion, made him seem more like a demon descending from the heavens.
Gripping his kanabo tightly, Yasuke raised it high above his head, every muscle in his body tensing with brutal intent. With a roar, he swung downward, the onyx steel kanabo cutting through the air like a falling meteor.
Musashi's instincts screamed. He vaulted backward just in time.
But Lapapu had no such luxury. Trapped. Mines flanked his left and right. If he retreated, he'd collide with Musashi. His only choice—face Yasuke head-on. Gritting his teeth, Lapulapu raised his Kalasag shield, planting his feet deep into the ground.
The collision was earth-shattering.
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, the very air trembling from the sheer force. Lapulapu skidded back several meters, his feet digging trenches into the soil to slow himself. His Kalasag shield arm trembled, the sheer force of Yasuke's strike nearly forcing his legs to buckle.
But he held firm.
Before he could recover, Yasuke swung again. Another devastating strike. Lapulapu grunted but stood his ground, his shield absorbing the impact. Sparks flew as the two warriors locked into a brutal struggle of strength versus resilience.
"Tell me, warrior—" Yasuke's voice rumbled like distant thunder, his stance unwavering. "What is your name? I wish to remember it."
LapulLapu, still holding his stance, gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
"I am Lapulapu… Datu of my people." His gaze sharpened. "And you?"
Yasuke's grip on his onyx kanabo tightened. "I am Yasuke—named by my lord Nobunaga! I am his loyal retainer!"
The words barely left his lips before fast, sharp footsteps echoed behind Lapulapu.
With blazing speed, he used Lapulapu back and shoulder as a launchpad, vaulting into the air, his wooden katana whistling through the air in a horizontal arc pushing off with incredible force.
Despite the pressure, Lapulapu didn't even flinch.
Mid-air, Musashi twisted his body, gripping his wooden katana in his right hand, swinging toward Yasuke's head.
Yasuke saw it coming. He leaned back just in time, Musashi's blade missing by air's breath.
But the real attack came from below.
Lapulapu lunged forward, thrusting his Kampilan sword toward Yasuke's exposed midsection.
The moment Musashi's attack missed, Yasuke countered instantly.
He swung his kanabo downward, intercepting Lapulapu's thrust. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the force of the block sending ripples through Yasuke's massive frame.
Yasuke wasted no time—he lifted his right leg and sent a crushing kick toward Lapulapu.
Lapulapu raised his shield, but Yasuke had expected that.
Instead of following through, Yasuke used the shield as leverage and vaulted over him, turning his powerful legs into weapons.
Before Musashi could react, Yasuke hurled himself toward him mid-air, tackling him with immense force.
Musashi barely had time to brace. The sheer momentum sent both warriors tumbling across where they previously stood, They narrowly avoided the deadly landmines scattered across the ground. But neither hesitated. In an instant, both warriors rolled to their feet, weapons in hand, eyes locke
The first strike came from Musashi.
With both his wooden swords in hand, he launched a rapid series of lightning-fast strikes.
Yasuke blocked the first. Then the second. Then the third.
But Musashi's assault was relentless. Each strike grew faster. Sharper. More precise.
The weight of Yasuke's kanabo slowed him just enough to force him on the defensive. Cuts began appearing across his arms, legs, and torso. But Yasuke did not falter.
Between their furious exchange, Yasuke grinned beneath his mask. "Tell me, Ronin. What is your name?"
Musashi, still attacking, smirked. "Miyamoto Musashi."
He twirled his blade in his grip, adjusting his stance.
"I've heard of you before."
Yasuke's flickered with interest. "Oh?"
Musashi's smirk widened. "I was born right after your master's death."
Yasuke let out a booming laugh. "Even after my great master's passing, his legacy still lives!"
Musashi's smirk turned into a wild grin. "Heh. I wouldn't call it a 'legacy'—more like a crazy bastard born straight from hell."
Yasuke didn't reply. He knew Musashi wasn't wrong. He inwardly chuckled to himself.
Still, he refused to let up. Despite his wounds, he kept pace with Musashi's relentless barrage.
Lapulapu stood frozen for a moment. Before him lay a dangerous field of landmines. Beyond that, Musashi and Yasuke clashed like two raging storms.
He had been forced to pause, unable to risk stepping forward blindly. But something wasn't right.
Yasuke had launched himself into the fight without hesitation. He wasn't just fighting—he was maneuvering.
Lapulapu's eyes narrowed. "…Don't tell me he memorized every single landmine placement?"
If that were true… then that meant there was a safe path right in front of him. Behind him, the sounds of snarling and growling grew closer.
Several wolf-like monsters, each nearly five meters tall, prowled toward him. Their glowing single cyclopean eyes locked onto their prey.
Some wolves had already been caught in buried explosives, their bodies torn apart by the blasts. And some got shot by George.
But a few had survived.
Laplapu exhaled. There was no time to hesitate. Lowering his shield slightly, he broke into a sprint, running straight into the battlefield.
From a distance, George's eyes widened. "Madman… what if you step on a landmine?!"
Lapulapu didn't stop. Step after step—nothing. He had guessed right.
He was moving straight through the safe routes where no landmines were placed.
Reaching striking range, he lunged, unleashing a devastating thrust toward Yasuke's exposed back.
But Yasuke, already anticipating an attack, still mid swing up top of his head heading towards Musashi, but Musashi narrowly dodge and twisting his kanabo to deflect Lapulapu's thrust behind him.
The three warriors locked eyes.
Yasuke's grin beneath his mask widened. "You are peerless warriors. To step forward despite danger—you do not lack courage."
Musashi swung toward Yasuke's right. Yasuke blocked. Lapulapu thrust forward. Yasuke parried mid-motion.
Then—a heavy steel anchor came flying toward them. Musashi barely dodged in time.
Edward laughed in the distance, still whipping his steel chains.
"Having trouble there, big guy?! Why haven't you killed them yet?!"
Yasuke only smirked. "I appreciate the assistance."
The battle paused. Yasuke adjusted his stance.
Musashi and Lapulapu mirrored him.
Yasuke exhaled. He had fought many enemies. But this time—he was fighting equals. And for the first time in a long time, he felt alive.